Morning journal and courier., 1887-01-10
oHAmnER or oommERoE.


Committee be Appointed-FOreign
BreakWaters-NeW Haven's Harbor
Life Saving.
A special meeting of the New Haven
Chamber of Commerce was held Saturday
evening, at which President J. D. Dewell
presided. Tue principal reason for the call
ing of the members together was the appoint
| ment of delegates to represent the Chamber
| of Commerce at the annual meeting of the
| Board of trade to be held in Washington
January 10. Before appointing the delegates
| preliminary business was discussed. Core
| spending Secretary Barnes said the first in
the course of lectures given under the direc'
| ton of the Chamber of Commerce would be
| delivered at LOOMS Temple of Music Janu-
| airy 81 by Prof. Brewer. His subject will be
"The Comstock Lode" Eight of these lee
lures will be delivered before the next annual
dinner of the organization. Prof Hadley,
| the labor commissio er of Connecticut, will
be one of the speakers, his topic being the
National Railway Legislation" Thomas R.
| Trowbridge, jr., will also probably prepare a
paper in which he will tell about the original
organization of the Chamber of Commerce
and some of the prominent original mem bers!S
| Professor Henry w. Farnam has also con-
sented to read a paper on the Historical
other we'll known lecturers are included such
well known individuals ex-Postmaster
Sperry, Rev. DIR. Smyth, Ike Bromley, and
George A. Butler of the National Trades
mems bank.
At the coming convention at Washington
of the Board of Trade New Ravens contribu-
ton to the programme of resolutions was
read by Secretary Barnes.
President Dewell and N. D. Sperry were
appointed to represent the Chamber at the
Washington meeting.
New members elected to membership were
DR.. Frank Whittemore, L. Wheeler
Beecher of Westville, F. S. Andrew Julius Ty-
Ter and Herrick P. Frost
Mr.. Easterbrook read several documents
regarding the favorable action of many
prominent owners of vessels in the eastern
States on what is known as the Dingley
pilotage bill DOW before Congress Mr.
Essterbrook introduced the following, which
helps to explain why such q bill as that
aimed at. in the Din9ley bill should be
passed by Congress:
In behalf of the large and important interest
and ownership Of vessels by members of this body
and by citize of this city who are annually taxed
navigating waters no more dangerous to navigate
than Long Island Sound and to enter
than than the port Of New Haven. move that that
a committee of three be appointed by
rializng Congress to place American sailing
yes els in the c-astwise trade on the same footing
exempting them from the payment of obnoxious
compulsory pilotage fees for the privilege of nav
Pensac ola ana all other harbors and waters along
the coast of our national domain.
President Dewell, Mr. Easterbrook and Sec
rotary Barnes were appointed to prepare the
necessary resolutions and to that they
were forwarded to Congress-
Some time was now spent in listening to
very elaborate and interesting description of
the immense breakwaters in foreign ports
Err OIL Aha,,
whom it would be difficult to find a more
thoroughly informed individual in this Sec
ton of the country on such a topic. Captain
Townsend detained emphatically and to
much purpose against the cutting down of
the appropriation for both New Haven har-
Dor and breakwater to the paltry sum of
$31, 900. AS originally reported in the river
and harbor bill, $500, 900 was named for the
breakwater and 500, 000 for the harbor.
This cut down later to 500, 900 for
the breakwater and 900 for the harbor
and then came the final cut to the insigni6-
cant sum named, which was fiat against the
strong recommendations of the government
engineers, who set forth that to leave the
work dragging would be disastrous. Captain
Townsend condemned the cut-down look
ing far more like political move than step
in the interests of the country. Prominent
New Haven gentlemen express the sincere
hope that our city government will be heard
promptly and vigorously in the matter by
the appointment of committee representing
the city, as was done several times
before, to proceed to Washington
and take vigorous and decisive measures
to have the appropriations increased to at
least a suitable working figure. Such com
mittee was appointed few years ago and
went on to Washington with the best results,
obtaining then an increase of nearly 500, 900.
Captain Townsend said such committee
should if necessary use heroic measures and
tal thI hI1ll ~ ha ia a nf
great public Importance. 1t is understood
also that there will be vigorous protests
against meagre appropriations from New
York and other coast and lake cities, and
that there is good chance for an increase of
the appropriations if the matter is rightly
attended to in due season. By some
it Is supposed that the appropriations were
made thus pitifully small in order to kill the
bill and perhaps to see how strongly public
sentiment is behind and backs the petitions
for these appropriations for Improvements.
Capt Townsend also exhibited before the
Chamber chart of Long Island So und and
the coast adjoining showing the topographic
survey as already accomplished, the features
of the survey being shown in colors. The
map showed what had been accomplished
in this important work and what
remained to be accomplished.
It will be remembered by our readers that a
petition published in the COURIER at the
time) for the finishing of this work was for
warded to Congress through Congressman
Mitchell, said petition being signed by a
great many representative men in New York,
Connecticut and Rhode Island and some OF
the signers in New York alone representing
S100, 200, 600. The petition earnestly asked
that this important work be pushed forward |
and consummated FOR the benefit of the vast |
commerce of Long Island Sound and for war
purposes. The area for the entire survey ex-
tends from Narragansett Bay to the Hudson |
o,,d for mil in1a ichy tarf
mark. This survey can be completed inside |
of two years. This survey has |
been decided as very important by
prominent naval and army men, as
in the event of a war Long Island Sound |
would be the rendezvous for hostile fleet |
by way of attack on New York. Further |
more it is of local interest, as steel clad |
big war ship off the lighthouse could in an |
hour with its big guns knock down all the |
shops of the Consolidated road and the Win
chester armory, and in short could lay the
whole city under contribution in no time for
millions of dollars. President Dewell of the
Chamber of Commerce, Hon. N. D. Sperry
and Captain Townsend were appointed a
committee to go on to Washington in behalf
OF the petition for this improvement. When
made by the United States coast and geodet-
ic survey the survey can be attached to the
present unfinished chart. Senator Hawley,
of Connecticut, aud Senators from New
York and Rhode Island have heartily advo-
vocated the petition. 1t must not be forgot
ten. continued Captain Townsend, that Long
Island Sound is the most important APP
proach to New York, and this survey is of
great Importance for war we'll as CONNER
cial purposes.
One reason why the west breakwater
should be built, Capt. Townsend continued,
is in order to make refuge for the feet of
ships that for want of it no flock in the fair
way of the channel and hinder navigation,
just as the steamer G. Il. Northam was him
dered the other night In one day not long
ago lit vessels lay in the channel obstruct-
ing navigation. II the west breakwater had
been completed the approach to the town
would have been relieved Here, continued
the speaker, is little France with an area no
larger than the State of Pennsylvania, and
big war debt and big yearly expenditure for
war purposes. She appropriated $50, 000, 900
last year for breakwaters, and yet our gov
eminent must come down to seven or eight
millions. Capt. Townsend then submitted for
inspection Photographic views of the cele
brated European breakwaters, including
Chorbonr0 Havra Marsoi1lax and P1vfnouth